Welcome to our web site.
This is Toshi Suzuki – the concierge of this site.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to explain the intention and concept of this web site together with the introduction of myself.
I am acting as a licensed real estate appraiser / consultant who works with foreign companies, law firms, tax accountant offices, financial institutions, listed companies. However, I did not arrive at the current position straight. I made a long detour to reach here.
Japan is the homogeneous country consisting of 4 main islands surrounded by seas where Yamato race. Until 1945 (prewar periods), the largest industry of this country was primary industries (mainly agriculture). Almost 70% of its national territory is mountainous district.
Having cultivated and shared tiny farm land with number of people, typical way of thinking respect of harmony between people – developed excessively. As a result, Japan has the homogeneous society which put strong peer/invisible pressure (public pressure) on its members.
I have an introverted personality by nature and socially awkward and had always felt difficulty to deal with this public pressure – renouncing major part of the identity in order to contribute to so called ‘harmony’. From my early adolescence, I had romantic notions about overseas wider world.
In order to get a position to go to overseas countries, I had job interviews of trading companies at the time of graduation. However, I was rejected by first rate companies (for example, trading conglomerates) and leading medium-sized firms because #1. I was a student of literature department (In Japanese business circles, a boy who selects literature department is considered as a twisted person. Most boys go to law faculty or economics faculty which are advantageous for taking jobs) #2. I repeated grades because I involved in a theatrical group and did not attend classes. #3. My performance was not so good (unsatisfactory).
Then I struggled to get a position in a small trading company with 50 employees in Osaka.
This company was specialized in export trade for black African countries. And I did export of galvanized iron sheets for French speaking African countries and ODA（Official Development Assistance of Japanese government）business.
It was very nice for me that I could use French and developed my language ability through day-to-day business. However, steel business was not interesting for me. All steel products are manufactured precisely according to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). There is no difference between an iron sheet made by manufacture A and that made by manufacture B.
It is impossible to differentiate your product from competitors. It means that iron sheet business should be something like speculation on foreign exchange and iron market. I did not like this kind of business and was eager to handle products for which I have an attachment.
So, I moved to Sony Corporation marketing myself by presenting that I had experience of doing business using French.
The 1990s when I was working for Sony Corp. was the last great age of Japanese electronics manufacturers. Through assignment of international marketing and product planning, I made business trips to Africa, Middle East, Latin America, India, East Asia and China. I was a product planner of general audio product and launched some hit models. Also, I was stationed in Beijing China as a General Manager of Marketing department. It was fascinating years as a business man.
On the other hand, as competition within the first-class company is tough, I was not sure whether myself (not good at internal politics) could persist somehow. Also, from the late in 1990s, technology shift from analog to digital/soft started. Future picture (road map) of different products projected by various product planners had become almost same – something like personal data assistant. (Digital technology demolished barriers of existing product categories. For example, there was unsurpassable barrier between video and audio in the analog technology era. From the viewpoint of digital technology, video signal and audio signal are similar and can handle them on the same platform.) It means that product planners of each product (radio, cassette recorder, CD player, radio-cassette recorder, video player so on) might lose jobs. I consider future prospects of product planning was very dark.
Welcome to our web site.
This is Toshi Suzuki ‒ the concierge of this site.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to explain the intention and concept of this web site together with the introduction of myself.
I am acting as a licensed real estate appraiser / consultant who works with foreign companies, law firms, tax accountant offices, financial institutions, listed companies. However, I did not arrive at the current position straight. I made a long detour to reach here.
Japan is the homogeneous country consisting of 4 main islands surrounded by seas where Yamato race. Until 1945 (prewar periods), the largest industry of this country was primary industries (mainly agriculture). Almost 70% of its national territory is mountainous district.
Having cultivated and shared tiny farm land with number of people, typical way of thinking respect of harmony between people – developed excessively. As a result, Japan has the homogeneous society which put strong peer/invisible pressure (public pressure) on its members.
I have an introverted personality by nature and socially awkward and had always felt difficulty to deal with this public pressure – renouncing major part of the identity in order to contribute to so called ʻharmonyʼ. From my early adolescence, I had romantic notions about overseas wider world.
In order to get a position to go to overseas countries, I had job interviews of trading companies at the time of graduation. However, I was rejected by first rate companies (for example, trading conglomerates) and leading medium-sized firms because #1. I was a student of literature department (In Japanese business circles, a boy who selects literature department is considered as a twisted person. Most boys go to law faculty or economics faculty which are advantageous for taking jobs) #2. I repeated grades because I involved in a theatrical group and did not attend classes. #3. My performance was not so good (unsatisfactory).
Then I struggled to get a position in a small trading company with 50 employees in Osaka.
This company was specialized in export trade for black African countries. And I did export of galvanized iron sheets for French speaking African countries and ODA（Official Development Assistance of Japanese government）business.
It was very nice for me that I could use French and developed my language ability through day-to-day business. However, steel business was not interesting for me. All steel products are manufactured precisely according to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards). There is no difference between an iron sheet made by manufacture A and that made by manufacture B.
It is impossible to differentiate your product from competitors. It means that iron sheet business should be something like speculation on foreign exchange and iron market. I did not like this kind of business and was eager to handle products for which I have an attachment.
So, I moved to Sony Corporation marketing myself by presenting that I had experience of doing business using French.
When I was facing these problems, my senior at university gave me the advice that there is an occupation called ʻreal estate appraiserʼ and it might be fit for your personality. I do not know why such idea pops up in this seniorʼs mind. This let me recognize the existence of ʻreal estate appraiserʼ.
* A real estate is an ultimate unique product in the world. The same real estate does not exist.
You can talk about it a lot.
* When I was person in charge of African business at Sony Corporation, I made business trip to North and West African countries having a suit case and product samples to get orders from distributors. Once I left Japan, I was on the road for one – two month ‒ business trip similar to overseas wandering. As I experienced this business wandering to developing countries, I came to like to visit/wander unfamiliar places alone.
In an assignment of real estate appraisal, an appraiser visits various town/city and enter into places where ordinary people never visit. So, I feel that this profession fits for me.
* 14th centuryʼs Japanese essayist ‒ Kenko Yoshida wrote that human desire/passion are reflected in building. A building is a subject on which human thoughts/desire are materialized.
It also provokes transiency of human activity. I think that imagining history/story on each real estate should be interesting.
Then I changed the course to the completely unknown industry. In Japan, national examination of real estate appraiser is one of the hardest. Fortunately, I passed it on my first try. In real estate appraisal offices, I had experienced various appraisal assignment – securitization, rent valuation for court action, law suit related, saving tax related, financial institution (collateral), M&A related so on. Also, I joined foreign real estate investment fund wish to experience a position of a player in the market. In said fund, I was a senior analyst and head of investment committee and involved in acquisition of properties.
After that I established Suzuki Real Estate Appraisal Office in 2015 and am doing real estate appraisal / research and translation business.
These 18 years, I watched movement of market/business and am involved in it as a real estate appraiser. At present, due to COVID-19 this country is facing substantial changes of social/economy since 1945 (defeat of World War 2).
As one of business persons living in this complicated/fast moving world, I am always seeking a solution what things are going on / what will happen next. In this web site, although there might be limitation of knowledge / idea of myself, I deliver real estate related information of Japan, I would like to share hints with you to think about our future.
| Toshi Suzuki |
| Licensed Real Estate Appraiser |
| Before joined the real estate appraisal industry, engaged in international marketing in Sony Corporation. Product planning of audio products for Asia, Middle East Africa and Latin American markets. Also, stayed in Beijing China to establish tele communication business for 4 years. Moved into the industry in 2002, got experience in appraisal for securitization, non-performing loan, tax-related, judicial action. Participated in start-up of real estate investment fund of Colliers Halifax as a senior analyst and a head of investment committee. In 2015, established own company, acting as a real estate appraiser / adviser for public listed companies and foreign companies (M&A related, asset consulting, legal action) |
| Domicile of Origin: Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Education: Waseda University B.A. in French Literature Beijing University of Post and Telecommunication Chinese Language Course Hobby: Motorcycle YAMAHA SRX-6.3 (The most beautiful single-cylinder sport model ever) Cooking Favorite Dish – Pasta, Penne All’arrabbiata, Mapo Eggplant etc. |
